Cam control for knitting machines



Feb. 7, 1961 K. HOFFMANN CAM CONTROL FOR KNITTING MACHINES 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 27, 1959 m Hw H w W MM a Feb. 7, 1961 Filed May 27, 1959 K. HOFFMANN CAM CONTROL FOR KNITTING MACHINES 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 /g I 5 22 26 2 I26, 22 I INVENTOR.

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Feb. 7, 1961 K. HOFFMANN CAM CONTROL FOR KNITTING MACHINES 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May 27, 1959 INVENTOR. '72

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1961 K. HOFFMANN CAM CONTROL FOR KNITTING MACHINES 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed May 27, 1959 INVENTOR.

Kai-Z Hoffman Feb. 7, 1961 K. HOFFMANN 2,970,461

' CAM CONTROL FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed May 2'7, 1959 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR.

CAM CONTROL FGR KNITTING MACHINES Karl Hofimann, Eichendorifstrasse 71, Kirchheim, Te'ck, Wurttemberg, Germany Filed May 27, 1959, Ser. No. 816,157

Claims priority, application Germany May 28, 1958 16 Claims. (CI. 66-45) The present invention relates to a cam control mecha nism for knitting machines.

The cams of knitting machines. particularly circular knitting machines, are at present usually controlled by so-called counter chains which are progressively advanced during the rotation of the needle cylinder or the cam box. Thus, for example, the counter chain may be advanced by the distance of one whole or one half chain link during each complete revolution of the needle cylinder or cam box. Some of these chain links of the known counter chains are provided with control cams which act through a lever system upon a pawl which, in turn, shifts the control cylinder of the cam control one step forward. This control cylinder is provided with control cams which operate and control cam components, patterning mechanisms, or other fixtures on the knitting machine.

One serious disadvantage of this known cam control mechanism employing a counter chain is the fact that the position of the chain and the position of the control cylinder must be exactly coordinated to each other in order to knit the desired product on the machine. The result will otherwise be broken needles, for example, when knitting the edges of a piece of fabric, since the left stitches will then be held for numerous revolutions of the cylinder or, in other Words, since the corresponding cam will remain disengagedfor too long a time.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a cam control mechanism for knitting machines which eliminates this disadvantage of the known mechanism.

The present invention relates in general to any type of cam mechanisms for knitting machines which are provided with a main control member which may be advanced in a step-by-step movement for controlling cam components, patterning mechanisms, or the like, and with a mechanism for controlling the movement of the control member which mechanism includes a member for supporting the setting elements which permit an adjustment of the step-by-step movement of the main control member in accordance with the desired relative shifting movements between the cam and the needle carrier for eifecting the needle movement. The present invention is therefore not limited to cam control mechanisms as are conventionally used with circular knitting machines, but it is likewise applicable to fiat knitting machines.

The present invention resides principally in designing the main control member so as to form the support of the setting elements of the control mechanism. Due to this design it is possible to prevent absolutely that the position of the support of the setting elements will ever be erroneously adjusted relative to the main control member as it occurs frequently when using the conventional counter chain as the support of the setting elements. The main control member may, as frequently provided in control systems, consist of a control cylinder or a card which is provided with suitable markings, or of a tape or the like. Such a card or tape forming the main control member may then be provided with markings not rates Patent 2,970,46l Patented. Feb. .7, T9161 only for the cam control but also for controlling the movement of the card or tape itself. These markings may be produced by magnetizing or be in the form of perforations or any other form known as such.

If in the control system according to the invention the kind of markings were used as are employed with counter chains, the range of application of the present invention would be considerably restricted. This is due to the fact that it is the principle of a counter chain that it is always advanced by the distance ofone or one-half link, for example, at every revolution of the needle cylinder or the cam box. This requires the supporting member ofthe setting elements to be of a very great length. The same applies to the length of the main control member since this member would likewise require to be continuously advanced if the present invention is applied. The control cams for controlling the cam of the knitting machine would therefore be disposed on the main control member at a distance from each other which is equal to the amount of forward movement of the con-v trol member between two change-over movements of the cam controls. This distance may be very considerable, for example, when knitting the length of a stocking.

In order to permit a general application of the present invention to any kind of cam controls, it is a further object of the invention to provide the supporting mem ber with a plurality of positions for accommodating several setting elements thereon which are adapted to act simultaneously upon the control mechanism, permitting one setting element in the various positions to serve as the means for interrupting the step-by-step movement of the main control member in accordance with differently sized movements between the cam and needle carrier. In comparison, the setting elements on the known counter chains, that is, the cams on the chain links, can always assume only one position. These known cams can eifect no more than the intermittent forward movement of the main control member. The next change-over movement always occurs at the engagement of the next cam on the counter chain. The control mechanism according to thepresent invention, on the other hand, additionally permits the length of time of the lock'engagement tobe varied by providing the setting element in a particular position. In order to set the cam controls for 'a certain desired period, for example, for the required numberjof revolutions of the needle cylinder or the cam box, the supporting member of the setting elements is provided with a plurality of setting positions for these elementswhich are then adapted to act simultaneously upon the control mechanism and permit the length of time of the cam action to be very easily adjusted by a mere selection of the proper position of the setting element. 7 p p I This feature of the present invention may also be employed successfully in a knitting machine in which the main control member and the supporting member, of thlel settingelements are disposed separately frorneach ot er.

A further important object of the present invention is to provide a mechanism for accumulating the elfects'of several setting elements which are disposed in different positions and act simultaneously upon the control mechanism during the period in which one of these-setting elements acts upon the control mechanism to aifect the forward drive of the main control member. This means that, during the employment of several setting elements in different positions acting simultaneously upon the control mechanism, the effects of'these setting elements will be added to each other. Consequently, the number of possibilities of adjusting a certain cam action to last fora certain length of time, for example, for a certain number of revolutions of the needle cylinder or the'cam .box, will be considerably increased.

' Thus, if provision is made that the effects of a setting element, expressed by the number of certain uniform shifting movements between the cam and needle carrier, form in all positions of said elementthe terms of a geometric exponential series, and provided that this exponential series, and provided that this exponential series begins with l, the summation of these numbers will permit all whole numbers to be attained which lie between the individual terms of this exponential series as well as those numbers which lie between the last term of this series and a following term, if the series is continued. These facts apply to all known numerical systems and may by the present invention also be applied to the cam controls of a knitting machine.

K As already indicated above, the present invention therefore renders it possible to discard any further use of a counter chain in cam controls. Consequently the very complicated and time-consuming assembly of the chain which has tobe carried out with greatest dexterity and requires considerable knowledge and experience will be completely avoided.

These and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become further apparent from the following detailed description thereof, particularly when read with reference to the accompanying diagrammatical drawings, in which- Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a cam control mechanism according to the invention, in which the main control member consists of a control cylinder;

Figures 2 and 3 show two similar side views of a part of the control mechanism according to Figure 1 in two different operating positions;

Figure 4 shows a view of the mechanism as seen from the siding facing toward the cam wheels, in which the cam wheels themselves and the scanning levers and control members at the left part of the drawing are omitted for the sake of clarity;

Figure 5 shows a perspective view of the upper part of an arm supporting the push bars which are adapted to engage with the cam wheels;

Figure 6 shows a cross section taken along line VI-VI of Figure 4;

V Figure 7 shows side views of two diflerent contact levers;

Figure 8 shows a perspective view of a controlarm with a part of a push bar;

.Figure 9 shows a perspective view of the lower end of a connecting link with the end portions of the associated contact lever and locking bar;

"Figure 10 shows diagrammatically a simplified perspective view of a part of modified embodiment of the invention;

Figure 11 shows a cross section taken along line XI- XI of Figure 10;

" Figure 12 shows a perspective view of a control cylinder similar to the embodiment according to Figure 1 but associated with an electric control mechanism therefor; while Figure 13 shows the circuit diagram of a simplified modification of the electric control mechanism according to Figure 12.

Referring to the drawings, and first particularly to Figures 1 to 9, the main control member which is adapted to be shifted in a step-by-step movement for controlling the operation of certain cam parts, patterning mechanisms, and the like, not shown in the drawings, consists of a control cylinder 1 which is provided in a manner known as such with control cams, not shown. For producing the step-by-step movement of control cylinder 1 about its shaft 2', the cylinder is provided with a gear rim 2, while a pawl 3 is adapted to engage into the teeth of gear rim 2 and to advance the control cylinder 1 intermittently. This pawl 3 is pivotable about an axis 4 and connected to a lever 6 which, in turn, is pivotable,

about an axis 5. Pawl 3 is acted upon by a spring 3 and by the action of a spring 6 it is maintained in sliding engagement with a cam plate 7 which, for example, in a circular knitting machine, rotates together with the needle cylinder or the cam box. The transmission ratio may be 1:1 so that at every revolution of the needle cylinder or the cam box, the control cylinder 1 will be advanced by the distance of one tooth spacing.

A part 1 of control cylinder 1 serves as'a supporting member of the setting elements of a control mechanism which, by acting upon pawl 3, exerts a controlling effect upon the step-by-step movement of control cylinder 1. For thispurpose, the supporting. cylinder 1 is provided with a series of bores 8 which are arranged in parallel longitudinal rows aroundthe periphery of cylinder 1' and are adapted to receive setting pins 9. In the particular embodiment of the invention as illustrated in the drawings, each longitudinal row contains seven bores, and each bore within one longitudinal row lies within a circumferential row of bores which are aligned within the same plane transverse to the cylinder axis. The setting pins 9 which are inserted into the bores of one longitudinal row act simultaneously upon the control mechanism. The effect of each setting pin 9 upon the control 1 mechanism is to cause the latter to pivot pawl 3 for a certain length of time, for example, for a certain number of revolutions of cam plate 7, out of engagement with gear rim 2. The length of time of this action of the control mechanism upon pawl 3 depends upon the location of the particular bore 8 in one row into which a setting pin 9 is inserted, and it varies in accordance with a change in such location. For this reason, the seven bores 8 of one row and the parts of the control mechanism which are associated with each of these bores will be subsequently identified by the addition of the letters a to g to the reference numeral of the respective part, provided the difference between the parts of each kind is of importance for explaining the present invention.

Each bore 8a to 8g in cylinder 1' is operatively associated with a two-armed scanning lever ltla, 11a to 10g, 11g, respectively, which forms a part of a set of transmitting means, which includes a plurality of transmitting members or links. All of these scanning levers 10, 11 are pivotably mounted on a common shaft 12 and each of these scanning levers is maintained substantially'in engagement with cylinder 1' by a spring 13a to 13g, respectively. For scanning the periphery of cylinder 1' to engage with pins 9, each of the arms 10a to 10g has a hook-shaped head 10' which has an inclined or camshaped contact surface 10" along which one of the setting pins 9a to 9g may slide during the rotation of cylinder 1' in the direction shown by the arrow A in Figures 2 and 3, so as to depress the respective arm 10a to 10g and pivot the same about the shaft 12.

Due to the action of a spring 14a to 14g, a connecting link 15a to 15g, respectively, is pressed against the lower surface of each head lti'a to lh'g of scanning levers 10. These links are mounted within the control mechanism in a manner not particularly shown in the drawings so as to be slidable only in' their longitudinal direction. The lower end of each link 15a to 15g acts upon another link 16a to 16g, respectively, which sub sequently will be referred to as a contact lever. These contact levers 16a to 16g are disposed adjacent to each other and mounted so as to be pivotable about a common shaft 17. In order to ensure that each link 15a to 15g will properly act upon a certain contact lever 16a to 16g, the lower ends 15a to 15'g of the former are offset at different distances relative to the upper parts. Each link 15a to 15g is also providedwith a projecting detent 17a to 17g, respectively, which cooperates with a locking bar 1% to 19g which is pivotable about a vertical pivot pin 18a to 18g, respectively. If one of the scanning levers 10a to it g is pivoted out of its normal position by one of the setting pins 9a. to 95,

.it will press the correspondinglink .15 downwardly so that the detent 17 thereof will engage with the lower edge of locking bar 19 and thus maintain link 15 in such depressed position.

The outer ends of contact lever 16a to 16g are provided with corresponding recesses into which the lower hookshaped end 20 of a single tie rod 20 engages which hasan eye portion 20" on its upper end through which pawl 3 is inserted. If one of the contact levers 16a to 16g is pivoted downwardly by one of the links 15a to 15g, it will take along the tie rod 20 and thus also the pawl 3 so that the latter will be pivoted out of engagement.

with gear rim 2. Pawl 3 will then be held in this disengaged position until the locking mechanism consisting of the respective locking bar 19 is released.

For releasing this locking mechanism, each scanning lever a, 11a to 10g, 11g is operatively associated with a control arm 21a to 21g and a cam wheel 22a to 22g, respectively. Control arms 21 are mounted in a known manner, not illustrated in the drawings, so as to slidable in their longitudinal direction, that is, in this particular case, in a vertical direction. The upper end of each control arm 21 is made in the form of a hook 21 which is adapted to engage with a corresponding hook 11' on arm 11 of scanning lever 10, 11. Each control arm 21 is acted upon by a spring 34 which tends to draw it in a downward direction. The lower end of each control arm 21 has an inclined surface 21" which is adapted to engage with cams 23 on the respective cam wheel 22. If hook 21 is engaged with hook 11 on arm 11 of the scanning lever, control arm 21 will be held out of the path of movement of cams 23 on the respective cam wheel 22 and thus out of engagement with these cams.

tive locking bar 18 opposite to the arm which engages with the link a to 15g abuts against one of the control arms 21a to 21g. For actuating the locking bars 19a to 19g, each control arm 21a to 21g is provided at the side thereof facing toward the corresponding locking bar 19 with a cam 24a to 24g, respectively, which is disposed at such a level that, when control arm 21 is in its raised position in which it is hooked into contact lever arm 11, the cam will act upon locking bar 19 whereby the latter will be pivoted about its axis 18 so that the detent 17' of the respective link 15 will be out of the path of movement of locking bar 19.

Each control arm 21a to 21g is further provided with a pin 25a to 25g, respectively, which engages with the lower side of one arm of a push bar 26a to 26g and is adapted to lift the pawl-shaped end of this arm out of engagement with a gear rim 27a to27g on the respective cam wheel 22a to 22g when the respective control arm 21a to 21g is in the raised position. Push bars 26a to 26g are pivotally mounted about a common axis 29 within a common supporting member 28 and, when pivoted, the arms of push bars 26 opposite to those engaging with control arms 21 are adapted to engage with the lower sides of contact levers 16. The supporting member 28 is mounted on a lever 31 which is pivo-table about an axis 30 and acted upon by a spring 32' and a cam plate 32 which rotates in synchronism with camplate 7 so that, during the knitting operation, lever 31 will continuously reciprocate about the axis 30 and thereby reciprocate all of the push bars 26a to 26g. As long as control arm 21a to 21g are in their raised position, this reciprocating movement will be without any effect since push bars 26a to 26g do not engage into the gear rims 27a to 27g of cam wheels 22a to 22g, respectively, but ride back and forth along pins 25a to 25g.

During the period in which the control mechanism, under the action of one of the setting pins 9 acts upon pawl 3, the effects of several setting pins 9 in different bores 8 of the same row and acting simultaneously upon the control mechanism may be accumulated so that these push bars 26a to 26g and contact levers 16a to 16g are disposed in such a relation to each other that, when contact levers 16a to 16g are pivoted so that pawl 3 .is moved out of engagement with gear rim -2, the lower edges 16'a to 16'g of contact levers 16a to 16g will be in alignment with the upper surface of the arms of push bars 26a to 26g when the'arms of these rods facing toward cam wheels 22 are out of engagement with gear rims 27a to 27g. The lower side of each contact lever 16a to 16g is provided with a recess 33a to 33g to permit those push bars 26 which engage with one end into the recesses 33 of the pivoted contact levers to pivot in a clockwise direction and to engage with their pawl-shaped end into the respective gear rims 27. Recesses 33a to 33g are of different lengths and each of thembegins at a point above the push bar 26 which is associated with the respective contact lever and extends in the particular embodiment shown in Figure 1 across all the otherpush bars which are located on that side of the associated push rod which faces toward tie rod '20. Accordingly, contact lever 16g has a recess 33g only for receiving push bar 26g, while contact lever 1611 has a recess 33:: for receiving all push bars 26a to 26g.

Gear rims 27a to 27g of cam wheels 22a to 22g, re-

spectively, all have the same number of ratchet teeth,

namely, in the particularly embodiment illustrated, 128 teeth. However, each cam wheel has a different num ber of cams 23, namely:

Cams Cam wheel 22a 7 I I 1 Cam wheel 22b *2 Cam wheel 22c 4 Cam wheel 22d 8 Cam wheel 22:: 16 Cam wheel 22 '32 Cam wheel 22g 64 In order to permit the next cam 23 to act upon the corresponding control arm 21 immediately after a previous cam 23 has acted thereon, the respective cam wheels must be advancedby the following numberof steps:

Cam wheel 22a by 128 steps Cam wheel 22b by 64 steps Cam wheel 220 by 32 steps Cam wheel 22d by 16 steps Cam wheel 22e by 8steps Cam wheel 22 by 4 steps Cam wheel .22g-by 2 steps.

rims 27a to 27g by pins 25a to 25g on control arms 21a to 21g, respectively.

If, for example, a setting pin 9a is inserted in a bore 8a of cylinder 1' and then acts upon the hook-shaped head ltla of scanning lever 10a, 11a, the latter will be pivoted about shaft 12 against the action of draw spring 13a so that hooks lla and 21a will be disengaged from each other. Consequently, control arm'21a'will be depressed by the action of spring 34a so that its lowerend will come to rest on the cylindrical surface 22'a of cam wheel 22a from which cam 23 projects. Pin 25a on control arm 21a will then also move downwardly with the result that push bar 26a will be pivoted by the action .of spring 26' about the axis 29 so that the pawl-shaped end of push bar 26a will engage with the ratchet teeth oftgear rim 27. Eachforvvard movementof push bar 26min 77 .therefore turn cam wheel 22a one step about its axis.

As soon as scanning lever a, 11a is pivoted and re- "leases the control arm 21a, it also pushes link 15a downwardly with the result that the detent 17'a will snap underneath locking bar 19a which rests directly on link 1512 since cam 24a has slipped off the arm 19'a of the locking bar when control arm 21a was moved downwardly. For pivoting the locking bar 19a to this position during the downward movement of control arm 21a, the locking bar is provided with a suitable spring, for example, a coil spring 18'a as shown in Figure 9 which tends to turn the bar in a clockwise direction about its :axis' 18a. Link 15a will then swing contact lever 16a downwardly about its axis 17 and thereby take along the tie rod and thus also pawl 3. The action of setting pin 9a therefore prevents any further advance of control cylinder 1, 1, and instead cam wheel 22a will be "progressively advanced in a step-by-step movement. During the last step of the movement of control cylinder 1, 1', setting pin 9a will be moved slightly beyond the head '10 of the scanning lever 10a, 11a, so that the return movement of the scanning lever will not be obstructed 'by setting pin 9a.

Since cam wheel 22a has only one cam 23, it must be rotated for one complete revolution until cam 23 will engage with control arm 21. Since gear rim 27a has 128 teeth, control arm 21 will not be moved by cam 23 until 'cam plate 32 has carried out 128 revolutions. As soon as cam 23 engages with the inclined surface 21"a of control arm 21a, the latter will be raised so that hook 21'a will snap into hook ll 'a of scanning lever 10a, 11a and thus arrestcontrol arm 21a in a fixed position. Cam 24d on control arm 21a then presses upon arm 19a of locking bar IQa so that the latter will be pivoted against the action of spring 18'a and thereby release the link 15a which will then be returned to its original position. This will also return pawl 3, for example, by the action of spring 3', into engagement with the ratchet teeth of gear 'rim 2. Thereupon, control cylinder 1, 1' will again be advanced.

If in place of setting pin 9a another setting pin acts upon the respective scanning lever 10, 11, the further advance of control cylinder 1,1 will be interrupted in accordance with the number of steps which the respective cam wheel has to advance until its next cam will' act upon the control arm 21. Thus, by inserting the setting pin into one or another position in cylinder 1, the stepby-step movement of the control cylinder may be adjusted in accordance with different numbers of revolutions of cam plates 7 and 32, which revolutions, in turn, correspond to a certain relative shifting movement between the cam and needle carrier of the knitting machine. The number of these revolutions depends upon the difference in design of cam wheels 22a to 22g and amounts to 128, 64, 32, 16, 8, 4, and 2 revolutions, respectively. These numbers are the terms of a geometric exponential series having a quotient of 2. It is a well-known fact that by summarizing the terms of a geometric exponential series, all intermediate values may be attained. Since in the present case the term 2=1 is missing, a few numbers will be lacking. However, this is of no practical importance since in knitting it does not matter whether one row more or less will be knitted. However, by adding further control members together with another cam wheel 22h which has the same number of earns 23 as there are teeth on gear rim 27h, the term 1 of the exponential Series could also be produced. However, in order to simplify the control mechanism according to the invention, these additional control elements have been omitted in the embodiment shown in the drawings.

The summation of the effects of several setting pins 9 'within one row occurs as follows: Assuming, for ex- .ample, that a setting pin 9a to 9g is inserted into each "bore 812 to 8g, the same procedure as described above will apply to all -control arms. -Consequently,' -'all contact levers 16a to 16g will also be pivoted downwardly, about shaft 17. However, the lower edge of contact levers 16a to 16g will then prevent the push bars 26a to 2.6 from engaging with the associated gear rims 27a to 27 of cam wheels 22a to 22 so that the reciprocating movement of the supporting member 28 of the push bars will only advance the cam wheel 22g. As soon as the next cam 23 of cam wheel 22g acts upon control arm 21g, all the control elements designated with the letter g will return to their original position so that contact lever 16g will thus also be raised by the action of spring 26' upon push bar 26 so that push bar 26f will then engage into gear rim 27] of cam wheel 22 During this procedure, the other contact levers 16a to 16 will continue to hold pawl 3 in the disengaged position. Thereupon, cam wheel 22 will be advanced step-by-step until cam 23 thereon will act upon the control arm 21 and effect the return of all control elements designated with the letter 7'1" The same procedure will then be repeated with push bar 26c.

It is clearly evident from the above description that the further advance of control cylinder 1, 1 will be interrupted for the period of 254 revolutionsof cam wheel 32, being the sum of 2+4+8+l6+32+64+128. If, therefore, there are more than one. setting pin 9 in one row of control cylinders 1', the effects of all the setting pins in this row will be added to each other. The new control mechanism therefore permits the interruption of the forward movement of control cylinder 1, 1' for practically any number of revolutions of cam plates 7 and 32 ranging between 1 and 254. During such interruption, the knitting operation continues at the cam position which was set by the last position of the control cylinder. Thus, if one revolution of cam plates '7 and 32 corresponds to one revolution of the needle cylinder or the cam box of a circular knitting machine, the corresponding number of rows as set on the cam will be knitted.

Figures 10 and 11 illustrate a modification of the invention which differs from the embodiment according to Figures 1 to 9 primarily by the provision of a punch card 101 to serve as a control member in place of the cylinder 1, 1. This punch card 101 is provided with a plurality of rows of perforations109 and is advanced row-by-row in its frame 102 by means of a feeding mechanism which is in effect similar to cam plate 7 and pawl 3 and therefore not particularly shown in FigureslO and 11. After each forward movement of the card, the frame 102 is pressed downwardly for a short time in a direction vertical to the surface of card 191 and, for example, against the action of a spring. not shown. The feeding mechanism of card 101 and frame 102 is operated by a control mechanism similar to that as previously described and illustrated in Figures 1 to 9. Figure 10 therefore only shows the scanning levers 110, 111 which are pivotable about a common shaft 112 and the associated control arms 121, all of which functionally correspond to scanning levers 1t 11 and control arms 21 as shown in Figures 1 to 9.

As shown in Figure 11, underneath frame 192' is a stationary frame 103 in which a row of pins 108a to 108g extends in a direction vertical to the direction of feed of card 101. Each of these pins 168 is slidable within a bore 103'a to 1tl3'g in frame 103 in a direction vertical to the surface of card 101. At a point near its upper end, each pin 108 has a flange 108a to 108'g for supporting the upper end of a spring 104a to 104g, the lower end of which acts upon frame 103. Directly underneath the lower end of pin 108 are the heads 'a to llllg of scanning levers 110, 11.1. Punch card 101 is located in relation to the row of pins 108 so that the pins will always be directly underneath one row of holes 109'.

If, after card 101 has been fed forwardly by the distance between two adjacent rows of holes 109, frame of spring 104 and thereby actuate the respective levers 110, 111. This movement of scanning levers 110, 111,

manner as described with reference to Figures 1 to 9, and this control mechanism then controls the subsequent feeding of punch card 101 and the further movement of frame 102'. Those holes 109 which are omitted in card 101 therefore takethe place of the setting pins 9 in the embodiment according to Figures 1 to 9, while the holes 109 themselves may be regarded as a sort of negative setting elements.

At the right end of punch card 101, not shown in the drawing, that is, at a point beyond the broken edge of the card shown in Figure 10, the card is provided with holes for controlling the cam of the knitting machine, and this righthand end of the punch card is adapted to act upon cams, patterning mechanisms, and the like by means of pins similar to pins 108. Punch card 101 therefor constitutes the main control element of the control mechanism according to Figures 10 and 11 which is equivalent to, the control cylinder 1, 1' of the embodiment according to Figures 1 to 9.

The further modification of the invention as illustrated in Figure 12 diifers from the embodiment according .to Figures 1 to 9 merely by the fact that the stepby-step movement of the control cylinder, is not controlled by mechanical elements but by electrical means. Insofar as the individual parts of the control mechanism .in turn, actuates the control mechanism in the same according to Figure 12 are either identical with those shown in Figures 1 to 9 or are at least functionally similar thereto, these parts will be identified in Figure 12 by reference numerals which are higher by 200 than those used .in Figuresl to 9. Thedescription of the particular-embodiment according to Figure 12 may there- ,fore .be confined to those parts which differ substantially from those shown in Figures 1 to 9.-

As already indicated, the principal distinction of the embodiment according to Figure 12.0ver the embodiment according to Figures 1 to 9 is that the settingpins 209 which are'selectively inserted into any of the bores208a .to 208g act upon electric. switches 210a to 210g, respectively, rather than upon mechanical levers 10, 11. These switches are connected in the circuit of asource of electric current 250 in series with electromagnets 215a to 215g, respectively, which are provided together with electromagnets 219a to 219g for operating other electric switches 216a .to 216g. Each of these switches 216a to 216g is adapted to connect one. contact 251a, to 251g {to .one contact 252a to 2523 or. to one contact 252a to 252g, respectively. Contact 151g is connected directly ,to one terminal 250 of the current source 250, while each of the contacts 251] to 251a is connected to the respective contact 252g to 25211 of the preceding switch. If oneof the magnets 215a to 215g is energized, the corresponding switch 216a.to 216g will be operated so that contacts 251a to 251g will be connected to contacts 252a to 252'g, respectively. This operatingp s'ition will subsequently be called the position II. If, on the other hand, one of the magnets 219a to 219g .is energized, the

corresponding switch 216a to 216g will be operated so that contacts 251a to 251g will be connected to contacts 252a to 252g, respectively. This latter operating positionin which all of the switches 216 are shown in Figure 12 will subsequently be called the position I.

Contact 252a of switch. 216a is connected by a conto the second terminal 250"v of the current source. If

all switches 216a to 216g arein the position Lmagnet 203 will be connected into the circuit of the current source 250 and then acts upon an I-shaped member 220" and thereby upon apawl 203 similar to,pawl3 in the embodiment according to Figures 1 10:9, whereby this pawl 203 is' lifted to such an extent that, due to .its reciprocating movement caused by a cam plate similar to cam plate 7 as shown in Figures 2 and 3 but not illustrated in Figure 12, control cylinder 201 will be advanced in a step-by-step rotation about its shaft 202.

Contacts 252'a to 252g are connected through electromagnets 226a to 226g to one terminal 232 of an interrupter 232, the other terminal 232" of which is connected to the second terminal 250 of the current source 250.

Interrupter 232 is driven mechanically so that the electrical connection between its two terminals 232' and 232" will be interrupted during the forward movement of pawl 203. This mechanical operation of the interrupter 232 may, for example, be carried out by means of a cam which acts upon the movable element of the inter rupter, as indicated diagrammatically in Figure.12.

Each magnet 226a to 226g faces toward a lever 231a to 231g, respectively, only one of which,.namely, lever 231a, is shown which is pivotable about an axis 230a to 230g and attractedtoward the respective magnet against the action of a spring 232'a to 232'g. Each lever 1231a to 231g carries a pawl-shaped push bar 226a to 226g, respectively, which is pivotably secured thereto. By means of a stop member 226'a to 226g, this push bar will be maintained in such a position that, when the respective magnet 226 is deenergized, the push bar will be moved by spring 232' so that its blade will engage into gear rim 227a to 227g of cam wheels 222a to 222g, respectively, and will shift the respective cam wheel forwardly by one step whenever the respective magnet 226 is deenergized. Similarly as in the embodiment according to Figures 1 to 9, each gear rim 227a to 227g has 128 ratchet teeth. The number of cams 223 on the different cam wheels 222a to 222g corresponds to the number of cams 23 on cam wheels 22a to 22g of the embodiment according to Figures 1 to 9. Cams 223 are adapted to operate the electric switches 221a to 221g mechanically in a manner known as such, and in the embodiment as illustrated in Figure 12, they are adapted to close these switches. 7

Each control magnet 219a to 219g mentioned above is'connected at one side to a contact 251a to 251g of switch 216a to 216g, respectively, and at the other side through one of switches 221a to 221g to the terminal 250" of the current source 250.

The operation of the control mechanism according to Figure 12 substantially corresponds to the operation of the control mechanism according to Figures 1 to 9. During the knitting operation, pawls 203 are continuously reciprocated by a cam plate similar to cam plate 7 in Figures 2 and 3. At the same time, the interrupter 232 remains continuously in operation. If switches 216a to 216g are set in the position I, magnet 203' will be energized so that pawl 203 acts continuously upon gear rim 202 of control cylinder 201, 201' and thereby con- Since in the position I of switches 216a to 216g the electromagnets 226a to 226g receive no current and'are deenergized, levers 231a to 231g will be at rest so that cam wheels 222a to 222g will not be shifted.

If,for example, a setting pin 20% should now be inserted in the bore 208b, the engagement of this pin upon the corresponding switch 210b will cause the magnet 215b to be energized so that switch 21Gb will be shifted to the position II. During the movement of control cylinder 201, the action of setting pin 20% upon switch 210!) will last only for a short time. Therefore, at the termination of this movement, setting pin 20% will have passed beyond switch 21% so that the latter can again open. This forward movementof control cylinder 201' may be attained by designing the pawl 203 so as to engage into gear rim 202 in such amanner that, aslong as tartan ip aw1 203 is pushed forwardly by cam 7, it cannot become disengaged from the gear rim and such disengagement cannot occur until pawl 203 is being retracted.

When the switch is thus changed over, the circuit through magnet 203' will be interrupted so that the I-shaped member 220" will drop downwardly and thereby move pawl 203 out of the range of engagement with gear rim '202 so that the further reciprocating movement of pawl 203 will be without effect during the period in which the "magnet 203 remains deenergized.

, When switch 216b is in its position II, as above described, magnet 226b, is connected through the interrupter 232 to the current source 250 and thus acts upon the corresponding lever 231b, not shown.

zation of magnet 226b and the action of spring 232b so camwheel 222b and shift the latter forwardly by one step at every movement caused by the action of spring 232b. In accordance with the number of cams 223 on cam wheel 222b, switch 2211b will in this case be closed after cam wheel 22% has progressed 64 steps, whereupon the magnet 21% will be energized and thereby return switch 21Gb to its original position I in which the same conditions occur as previously described.

there will only be the electromagnet 2260 which is con- 'thatpush bar 2261) will engage into gear rim 227i; of

-nected to the circuit of the current source 250 since the current supply to the electromagnet 22 6b is interrupted by the shifting of switch 2160 to the position If. Cam jwheel 222a will therefore advance 32 steps in accordance with the number of its cams 223. The respective cam 223 will then act upon switch 221a and thereby cause switch 2160 to return to position I. During this time,

-' however, the supply of current to magnet 2% remains interrupted by switch 2160 which will then energize the electromagnet 22612 in the manner as above described. Cam wheel 222k will therefore advance 64 steps so that the forward movement of control cylinder 201, 201 will be interrupted for 32+64 steps, that is, for a total of 96 steps.

The control mechanism according to Figure 12 therefore permits the same result as described in detail with reference to the embodiment according to Figures 1 to '9, namely to interrupt the movement of control cylinder 201, 201 for the period of virtually all numbers of revolutions of cam plate 7 between 1 and 254.

The further modification of the invention as illustrated in Figure 13 is very similar to the embodiment according to Figure 12. All the parts shown in Figure l3 which are similar to those in Figure 12 are indicated by refer- .ence numerals which are higher by 100 than those applied in Figure 12, while all those parts of the mechanism which are not illustrated in Figure 13 are substantiallyidentical with those shown in Figure 12. V

The only difference between the embodiment according to Figure 13 and that according to Figure 12 resides in the fact that the switches 3 16:: to 316g are operated mechanically by setting pins 209a to 209g and by cams 223. The mechanical connection provided, operates in such a manner that setting pins 209 shift the switches 316 to the position II, while cams 223 shift the switches to the position I. Magnets 326a to 326g will therefore be energized and deenergized by the interrupter 332 similarly as magnets 226 in Figure 12. The remaining operation is similar as described above with reference to Figure 12. V i i 1 Although'my-invention has been illustrated and de- This lever f is then continuously reciprocated by the periodic energiscribed with reference to the preferred embodiments thereof, I wish to have it understood that it is in no way limited to the details of such embodiments, but is capable of numerous modifications within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus fully disclosed my invention, what I claim 1. In an automatic knitting machine, a cam control comprising, in combination, a main control member for controlling automatically operated parts of the machine, shifting means, driving means for moving said shifting means continuously so as to shift said control member in a step-by-step movement, a supporting member operatively connected to said main control member for synchronous movement therewith, said supporting .memher having a plurality of surface parts spaced from each other and arranged in rows and lines, said rows crossing the direction of the movement of the surface of said .supporting member, saidlines being parallel to said direction of movement, each of said parts being adapted to be changed from one condition to another condition, one of said conditions being an active condition and the other an inactive condition, scanning means associated with each of said lines and adapted to be actuated by any one of saidsurface parts in said active condition within said line, transmitting means comprising a plurality of members functionally interposed between said scanning means and said shifting means, each of said scanning means being associated with at least some of said transmitting members of one of said transmitting means for changing said transmitting members from an inactive position to an active position when a scanning means is acted upon by one of said surface parts in said active condition, each of said transmitting members in said active position being adapted to interrupt the shifting action of said shifting means, means for returning said transmitting members from said active position to said inactive position, a member movable in a continuous succession of cycles in timed relation with said driving means, a plurality of counters operatively connected to said movable member, each of said counters being associated with the surface parts in the active position in one of said lines for counting a predetermined number of said cycles of said movable member, each of said scanning means comprising means for starting the operation of the counter associated therewith, means associated with each counter for delaying the action of said returning means until each actuated counter has completed its counting operation and for then releasing said returning means, and means for retaining at least one of several actuated counters in an inoperative condition as long as another counter operates so that said actuated counters operate successively.

2. In an automatic knitting machine as defined in claim 1, wherein said main control member and said supporting member together form a single element.

means.

4. In an automatic knitting machine as defined in claim 1, wherein each counter is preset to count a predetermined number of cycles which is different from the'predetermined number of cycles to which any of the other counters are preset, the numbers counted by each of said counters corresponding to the terms of a geometric exponential series.

5. In-an automatic knitting machine as defined in .:claim .1, :wherein 'said main control member. comprises .:a-control 'cylinder, a part of said cylinder forming said :supportingmember of-sai'cl surface parts, said scanning means comprising a separatescanning leverforcach line of said surface. parts on said supporting member for.

.scanning .said supporting member for said surface parts in the active condition, said transmitting members being disposed between .said scanning levers and said shifting means for acting upon said shifting means for a certain length-of time in accordance with the action of said delayingmeans to disengage saidshifting means from said control cylinder when one of .said scanning levers has completed its engagement with one of said surface parts.

,6. In an automatic knitting machine as ,definedin sclaim 1,;wherein said delaying means further comprise a plurality of lockingmembers, each associatedwith said transmitting members of one of said scanningmeans and adapted to arrest said transmitting members in aposition in which they are actuated by one of said scanning means.

7. In an automatic knitting machine as defined in claim 6, wherein each of said transmitting means further comprises a coutactleverpivotably:mounted .at one end about a stationary axis, and a tie rod having one end engaging with the other end of all of said contact levers, said shifting means comprising a gear rim on said control member, a pawl normally in engagement with said gear rim, said driving means being adapted to reciprocate said pawl continuously to effect said step-by-step movement of said control member, and a member on the other end of said tie rod adapted to engage with said pawl to disengage the same from said gear rim when one of said scanning means is in engagement with one of said surface parts in the active condition, a common supporting member for pivotably supporting all of said push bars adjacent to each other so as to be individually pivotable about a substantially central horizontal axis, each of said push bars having two arms, one of said arms facing toward the gear rim on one of said cam wheels, the other arm extending underneath said contact levers, the lower edge of at least one contact lever when in the actuated position engaging'with said other arm of said push bar and thereby holding at least one of said push bars disengaged from the teeth of said gear rim, the lower edge of each of said contact levers having a recess for receiving one of said push bars associated with one of said contact levers as well as all other push bars disposed at one side of said push bar.

8. In an automatic knitting machine as defined in claim 1, wherein each of said counters further comprises a separate cam wheel having at least one cam thereon for controlling the operation of each delaying means, means for connecting said movable member to each of said cam wheels to drive the same, a gear rim mounted on each of said cam wheels; and a separate push bar adapted to engage the teeth of each of said gear rims when said transmitting members are actuated, said movable member comprising a shaft and a cam plate on said shaft for reciprocating said push bar.

9. In an automatic knitting machine as defined in claim 8, wherein each of said counters further comprises a control arm associated with one of said cam wheels and the cam thereon and with one of said scanning means, and having one end facing toward said cam wheels and having a hook-shaped end opposite thereto, each of said scanning means comprising a scanning lever having an angular shape forming two arms, one of said arms facing toward said supporting member and adapted to engage with said surface parts in the active condition thereon, and the other arm having a hook-shaped end adapted to engage with said hook-shaped end of said control arm to hold the other end of said control arm out of engagement with said cam, a spring acting upon said scanning lever to maintain one of said arms thereof in engagement with .said supporting member and theaother vhook-shaped arm in engagement with the hook shaped end of said controlgarmwhen said scanning lever is npt in engagement with one of 'said surface parts in the active condition, a membermounted on said control arm .trol arm, one of said transmitting members engaging with one of said scanning levers and adapted to interlock with saidlocking bar, and a cam mounted on said control arm for pivoting said locking bar out of said locking position when said cam on said cam wheelacts upon said control arm.

'10. In, an automatic knitting machine as defined in claim 1, whereineachof said counters comprises a cam wheel having a different number of cams thereon than theothercam wheels, the; number of said cams on each of said cam;-v vheels forming a term of a geometric exponential series having a quotient of 2, a gear rim connected to each of said cam wheels, said gear rims on all of said cam wheels having the same number of teeth, said number corresponding atleast to the number of cams on the cam wheel having the largest number of 'cams of all of said cam wheels.

11. In an automatic knitting machine as defined in claim 1, wherein each of said transmitting means further comprises a contact lever pivotably mounted at one end about a stationary axis, and a tie rod having one end engaging with the other end of all of said contact levers, said shifting means comprising a gear rim on said control member, a pawl normally in engagement with said gear rim, said driving means being adapted to reciprocate saidpawl continuously to effect said step-by-step movement of said control member, and a member on the other end of said tie rod adapted to engage with said pawl to disengage the same from said gear rim when one of said scanning means is in engagement with one of said surface parts in the active condition.

12. In an automatic knitting machine as defined in claim 1, wherein said main control member comprises a card, strip or the like having said surface parts in said active and inactive conditions thereon.

13. In an automatic knitting machine as defined in claim 1, wherein said main control and supporting member comprises acard, strip, or the like, said shifting means being adapted to shift said card for equally spaced 'distances in a step-by-step movement within the plane of its surface and after each shift to reciprocate said card in a direction vertical to its surface, said scanning means comprising a plurality of pins spaced from each other within a row extending transverse to the direction of said step-by-step movement and in a plane intersecting with said card at a line of rest of said card intermediate its movements and so as to be movable in their axial direction vertical to the surface of said card, said card having perforations therein at least at some points thereof lying within said line of rest and forming said surface parts in said inactive condition, some of the solid parts of said card forming said surface parts in said active condition, a plurality of pivotable scanning levers, each having the end of one arm thereof adapted to engage with one of said pins, said intermediate transmitting members being interposed between said scanning levers and said shifting means for acting upon said shifting means for a certain length of time to disengage the same from said card to interrupt the step-bystep movement thereof when at the termination of one forward movement said card is moved in said vertical direction toward said pins and if at least one of said pins does not coincide with a perforation in said card and is there-.- fore depressed by one of said solid parts of said card against the end of said arm of said scanning lever, thereby pivoting the same, while any pincoinciding with a persaid shifting means, each of said scanning means comprising separate electric switch means adapted to be acted upon by each of said surface parts in the active position within one line for controlling the operation of said electromagnetic means.

15. In an automatic knitting machine as defined in claim 14, wherein each of said counters comprises a cam wheel associated with saidsurface parts in the active position, each of said cam wheels having a different number of cam surfaces thereon, means for connecting said cam wheels to said shifting means, and means for shifting said cam Wheels in a step-by-step movement,

said electromagnetic means being adapted to'act intermittently upon said last shifting means to produce said step-by-step movement.

16. In an automatic knitting machine as defined in claim 15, wherein 'said transmitting mansicompris'eifan electromagnet adapted to act upon said shifting means of said control member, said counter furthercomprisi'ng an interruptor, "a source of current, said switch means being controlled by said surface parts in the activecbndition and by said cam wheels and connected'to said current source in series with said electromagneh' said cam wheels being adapted to move said switch means to the closed position in which said ele'ctromagnet is energized to allow said shifting means to act upon said control'rnember, saidsurface parts in the active condition 'being adapted tomov'e said switch means .to another 1 position in' which said switch means interrupt the circuit'of said current source and connect the same to "said interruptor and said electromagnetic means inserieswith said interruptor for shifting one of said, cam wheels in a step-by-step movement in accordance with the operation of said interruptor,

References Cited in the file of this patent" UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,841,970 Saunders July 8,. 1958 

